Picking motion for looms



1964 F. F. DONOGHUE ETAL ,4 7

PICKING MOTION FOR LOOMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1961 INVENTORS FLORENCE E DONOGHUE. RONALD BERRY. BY QM Q% A TTORNE Y 1964 F. F. DONOGHUE ETAL 3,119,417

PICKING MOTION FOR LOOMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1961 5% MM mw m mF a m R RONALD BERRY. B M017 fl- Gimme/Q A TTORNE Y J 1954 F. F. DONOGHUE ETAL 3,119,417

PICKING MOTION FOR LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 2, 1961 5 m NM m m mEE NwQ a R A MWW FR A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,119,417 PICKING MGTIQN FGR LOQMS Florence F. Donoginre, Worcester, and Ronald Berry, Hopedale, Mass, assignors to Eraper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed Oct. 2, 1961. Ser. No. 142,184 6 Claims. (Cl. 139-147) This invention relates to a picking motion for looms and, more particularly, to such motions adapted for use on looms of the fiy shuttle type.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a picking motion in which the major components of the mechanism are totally enclosed and free from association with foreign matter detrimental to the life expectancy of said components.

it is a further object of the invention to subject many of the picking components to continuous lubrication by providing a fluid lubricant reservoir within that member which encloses said components.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a picking motion of improved balance construction whereby such picking elements as the pick shafts, pick balls and parallel motions are caused to oscillate in unison with the loom swords and lay beam enabling the forces to which the picker sticks are subjected to be concentrated in a direct plane.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pick camming means with a more reduced cam angle than those pick cams employed in picking motions of conventional design.

It is a further and more specific object of the invention to provide a picking motion for fly shuttle looms in which the life expectancy of the various components will be increased to a considerable extent and which will require less maintenance than the picking motion-s employed prior to the instant invention.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure:

Picking motions more commonly used in present day looms utilize a crank shaft, cam shaft and a rocker shaft all of which extend the full width of a loom and are supported on either end thereof by suitable bearings provided in the loom frames or what are more commonly referred to as the loomsides.

Such motions include pick cams mounted on the cam shaft which are adapted to engage freely rotatable pick balls mounted on studs that protrude from freely oscil latable pick shafts. These pick shafts are supported at their ends by hearings on the inner side of the loomsides and are positioned so as to extend transversely of the aforementioned shafts which extend the entire width of a loo-m. The pick shafts include pick anns extending therefrom which are interconnected to the looms parallel motions and in a known manner control movement of the picker sticks which are the means for causing the loom shuttle to travel back and forth across the lay beam. The lay beam is supported by the swords which are positioned on the inner side of the loomsides and are attached at their lower extremity to the rocker shaft. The lay beam and swords are rockable on the rocker shaft in a manner well known to those familiar with the art by means of a member interconnecting the upper portion of the swords with the crank shaft.

In carrying the instant invention into effect as illustrated by the particular embodiment herein shown and described a novel loomside is provided, which includes spaced side walls defining a sealed cavity therebetween that is adapted to receive and maintain therein a fiuid lubricant reservoir for constant lubrication of the various picking elements which will hereinafter he more fully described. The loomside has protruding from its lower 3,119,417 Patented Jan. 28, 1954 and outer side a sealed, oscillatable cylindrical pick shaft housing having one end thereof assembled to and open into the sealed cavity provided in said loomside. The opposite end of this housing supports the loom parallel motion which is fixedly positioned thereon and is fully oscillatable therewith. The top surface of this housing adjacent to the loomside supports the foot portion of the loom sword and serves as a pivot point for the to and fro rocking of said sword.

A pick shaft axi-ally oscillatable within the pick shaft housing and rockable therewith is provided with an inwardly directed stud, supporting a freely rotatable pick ball at its free end and is adapted to be engaged by an adjustable pick cam eccentrically located on one side of a cam shaft gear. This cam shaft gear assembles on the end of a cam shaft within the cavity formed by the spaced walls of the loomside. The crank portion of one of the looms crank shafts extends outwardly from a supporting aperture provided in the upper and outer side wall of the loomside and is interconnected to the upper portion of the sword by means of a connecting rod. The inner end of this crank shaft is supported in a suitable bearing provided in the inner wall. That portion of the crank shaft which extends between the spaced side walls of the loomside is provided thereon with a crank shaft gear that is caused to mesh with the cam shaft gear. Although reference is being made to only one side of la loom, it is to be understood that both sides are provided with like parts and function in a like manner. The cam shaft gear is caused to rotate by means of its meshing relationship with a motor pinion and the various picking elements within the confines of the loomsides spaced walls are subjected to constant lubrication either through direct contact with the lubricant reservoir or by means of certain members picking up said lubricant and carrying it to other members with which they make contact.

The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail by reference to one specific embodiment thereof as evident in the accompanying figures of drawing wherein like parts are indicated by like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in section taken from the front of the loom showing the spaced side walls of the loomside, the oscillatable cylindrical pick shaft housing extending therefrom and the various elements adapted to function within these members.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a portion of the connecting rod and crank shaft as seen from the side of the loom.

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation showing the looms parallel motion and its relationship to the oscillatable cylindrical pick shaft housing.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but partially in section and in front elevation.

FIG. 5 is a view in side elvation of the various picking elements which function within. the confines of the loom side and pick shaft housing and the manner in which the sword is connected to the crank shaft and said housing.

P16. 6 is a sectional view showing the adjustment means for positioning the pick cam on the cam shaft gear.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing one form of assembly which may be utilized when assembling the pick arm to the end of the pick shaft.

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevation showing the various gears utilized for obtaining the desired motion of the instant invention.

Referring now to the figures of drawing there is shown in FIG. 1 a loomside indicated generally by numeral 10 hatving spaced side walls 11 and 12 defining a sealed cavity 13 therebetween. Side wall 11 being the outer wall of the loomside 10 is provided with a sealed, oscillatable cylindrical pick shaft housing 14 having one end thereof assembled to and open into the sealed cavity 13 provided in said loomside. Housing 14 is positioned and supported by a double flanged mounting bracket 15' which by means of cap screws in passing through suitable apertures provided in the innermost flange and into aligned tapped holes in side wall 11 is attached to the loomside. Within the flange portions of bracket 15, anti-friction bearings 17 and 18 are seated and are adapted to encompass the inner and outer ends of the cylindrical pick shaft housing 14 thus permitting said housing to be freely oscillatable within said bracket 15. A parallel motion of known design indicated generally by numeral it? has a mounting base 2t which serves as a cover plate for the outer end of housing 14 and assembles thereto by means of cap screws 21 passing through suitable apertures in said mounting base and thence into aligned tapped holes provided in the webbed end portion 22- of said housing 14. The parallel motion attached in this manner permits this mechanism to oscillate in unison with housing 14 along with a sword 23, the foot portion of which is attached to the upper cylindrical surface of said housing by means of cap screw 24- as at 25 and a pick shaft 26 which is also axially oscillatable within said housing.

Pick shaft 26 is provided with a centrally disposed and inwardly directed pick ball stud 27 which supports at its free end a freely rotatable pick ball 28. This pick ball is adapted to be engaged by an adjustable pick cam 29 eccentrically positioned on one side of a cam shaft gear 3!) by means of cap screws 31 passing through elongated openings 32 and 33 in said cam and thence into aligned tapped holes provided in spokes 34 and 35 of said gear. Pick cam 29 is adjustable by means of the elongated openings '32 and 33 and fine adjustment is maintained by means of an adjusting screw 36 passing through a threaded hole in a lug member 37 provided on the forward end of said cam so that the end of the screw bears against the rib 38 of spoke 35.

Cam shaft gear 34) assembles on the end of a cam shaft 39 within the confines of cavity 13. Cam shaft 39 is supported in a bearing 40 provided in side wall 12 immediately adjacent to said gear and it extends the width of the loom to support a similar gear at its opposite end.

The upper portion of side walls 11 and 12 are provided with aligned bearings 41 and 42. which are adapted to support one of the looms crank shafts 4'5. The throw portion 44 of this crank shaft extends outwardly and beyond side wall 11 and is adapted to receive one end of a freely rotatable connecting rod 45 thereon. The opposite end of this connecting rod 45 is pivotally connected to the upper portion of the sword .23 and when actuated in a manner hereinafter to be described imparts a rocking motion to the sword and an oscillating movement to the pick shaft housing 14 to which it is attached along with the parallel mechanism, pick shaft and the pick ball and stud which are caused to move in unison with said housing. That portion of crank shaft 43 which extends between the spaced side Walls 11 and 12 of loomside It has fixedly positioned thereon a crank shaft gear .6. This gear member 46 is in meshing relationship with the cam shaft gear 3% which in turn receives its means of rotation in a clockwise direction as indicated by the directional arrows in FIGS. 5 and 8 through its meshing relationship with a driving pinion 47. it is to be understood, hov ever, that this cam shaft gear 3i can be caused to function satisfactorily in an anti-clockwise direction if desired. Assembled in any suitable manner such, for example, as a spline shown in FIG. 7, the forward end of the pick shaft 26 has assembled thereto a generally upwardly directed pick arm 48. The upper end of this pick arm is provided with a lug connection or pivotal linkage 4.9 which in a known manner interconnects said pick arm with the looms picker stick 5%? (FIGS. 4 and 5).

In operation the cam shaft gear is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction by means of a driving pinion being in meshing relationship therewith. A crank shaft gear fixedly positioned on the crank shaft and in meshing relationship with the cam shaft gear causes rotation of the crank shaft which in turn imparts a rocking motion to the swords and lay beam positioned thereon. The foot portion of the sword being attached to the upper surface of the oscillatable pick shaft housing causes the latter to oscillate to and fro along with the looms parallel motion, pick shaft, pick ball and stud and pick arm which are assembled thereon and therein causing these members to move in unison, thus permitting the forces imparted to the picker stick to be exerted in a direct plane rather than the more common manner wherein the pick shaft is axially oscillatable only and the parallel motion moves in unison with the loom sword.

The pick cam being eccentrically located at one side of the cam shaft gear is caused to contact the pick ball during rotation of said gear and in a manner well known to those familiar with the art. This motion is transmitted through the pick shaft and pick arm to the looms picker stick to serve as the means for propelling the shuttle from one side of the loom to the other. The sealed cavity formed by the spaced side walls of the loomside is adapted to receive and maintain therein a fluid lubricant reservoir assuring proper and constant lubrication of the various picking elements that are caused to function therein.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a loom the combination of a loomside, an extension from said loomside, a member rotatably borne in said extension, 21 parallel motion fixed to said member and carrying a picker stick and a pick shaft rotatably mounted in said member, a pick ball and stud fixed to said pick shaft, a pick arm assembled to and supported by the pick shaft and a lug connection interconnecting said arm with said picker stick, a pick carnming means rotatable in said loomside and aligned for contact with and operation of said pick ball.

2. In a loom the combination of a loomside, an extens1on from said loomside, a member rotatably borne in said extension, a parallel motion fixed to said member and carrying a picker stick and a pick shaft rotatably mounted in said member and extending externally thereof at one end, a pick ball and stud fixed to the pick shaft internally of the member and a pick arm fixed to that portion thereof which extends externally of the member, a lug connection from the arm to the picker stick and pick cam means rotatable in said loomside and aligned for contact with and operation of said pick ball.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said loomside includes spaced side walls defining a sealed cavity therebetween which is adapted to receive and maintain therein a fluid lubricant reservoir for lubrication of said pick shaft, pick ball and stud and said pick cam means.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said member defines a sealed, oscillatable cylindrical pick shaft housing having one end thereof assembled to one side of said loomside and being open into said sealed cavity to form additional reservoir area for said fluid lubricant.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein said pick cam means includes an adjustable pick cam eccentrically positioned on one side of a cam shaft gear within said sealed cavity of said loomside which is adapted to contact said fluid lubricant reservoir therein and is aligned for contact with and operation of said pick ball.

6. In a loom the combination of a loomside, an extension from said loomside, a pick shaft housing rotatably borne in said extension, a pick shaft, and a pick ball and stud fixed to said pick shaft within said housing and freely movable therewith, a paralleling mechanism fixedly positioned on the outer end of said housing, a lay sword the foot portion of which assembes to and is supported by said housing, a cam shaft and a first gear member positioned thereon, a pick cam eccentrically positioned on one side of said first gear member and aligned thereon for contact with and operation of said pick ball, a crank shaft having a connecting rod assembled thereto, said lay sword being interconnected to said crank shaft by means of said connecting rod, 21 second gear member fixedly positioned on said crank shaft and in meshing relationship with said first gear member for imparting a rocking motion to said lay sword through said crank shaft and connecting rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,481,425 Hrdina Sept. 6, 1949 2,547,652 Millette Apr. 3, 1951 2,688,344 DeWas Sept. 7, 1954 2,760,522 Higgins Aug. 28, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 623,099 Great Britain May 12, 1949 

1. IN A LOOM THE COMBINATION OF A LOOMSIDE, AN EXTENSION FROM SAID LOOMSIDE, A MEMBER ROTATABLY BORNE IN SAID EXTENSION, A PARALLEL MOTION FIXED TO SAID MEMBER AND CARRYING A PICKER STICK AND A PICK SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID MEMBER, A PICK BALL AND STUD FIXED TO SAID PICK SHAFT, A PICK ARM ASSEMBLED TO AND SUPPORTED BY THE PICK SHAFT AND A LUG CONNECTION INTERCONNECTING SAID ARM WITH SAID PICKER STICK, A PICK CAMMING MEANS ROTATABLE IN SAID LOOMSIDE AND ALIGNED FOR CONTACT WITH AND OPERATION OF SAID PICK BALL. 